Oak Bluffs Detective Fired

Oak Bluffs Police/CWN

OAK BLUFFS – A former detective on the Oak Bluffs Police Department has been fired after unauthorized use of the criminal background check system.

The Vineyard Gazette reports that James Morse, a 23 year veteran of the department, was let go after it was discovered that he had run background checks using the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information System on people who had no involvement with the department, one individual was a former tenant of the detective.

Morse was paid just over $20,000 in accrued vacation time and accrued compensatory time, and agreed not to make disparaging comments about the town. He also waived his rights to sue the town in connection with the incident.

The decision was made to fire Morse after all five selectmen and Police Chief Erik Blake met in closed session. The move comes after the town conducted an investigation that looked at Morse’s activity on the system over the past year.